Publication Summary

This is the Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Willapa River Fecal Coliform Bacteria Verification Study.

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is required under Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations to (1) develop and implement Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for impaired waters, and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the water clean-up plan in achieving the needed improvement in water quality.

The Willapa River and several tributaries are on the 1998 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies due to violations of one or more water quality criteria. The mainstem and several tributaries have parameters that exceed (do not meet) the water quality criteria for fecal coliform bacteria, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. The EPA requires states to develop and implement clean-up programs through the development of TMDLs for listed parameters and to periodically monitor progress toward compliance with TMDL targets. The TMDL is a tool for achieving improvement in water quality conditions with the ultimate goal of eventually meeting standards under the Clean Water Act for streams and lakes.

In 1997, Ecology′s Southwest Region Water Quality Section conducted a Watershed Needs Assessment that included the Willapa River watershed. The basin was identified as a high priority for a TMDL technical study. The focus of this study is fecal coliform bacteria, with other parameters to be addressed at a later date.

This is a plan to collect monitoring data for verification of results from studies conducted since 1997 by the state Department of Health Shellfish Protection Program, Pacific County, and Ecology. Fecal coliform concentrations during a 1997-98 study by Ecology found that only five of 30 sites sampled met water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria. 2004 data show that conditions have improved significantly in many parts of the basin, especially in the lower stretch of the river. Results from this study will verify where the river meets standards and focus local efforts on areas where bacteria problems continue to exist. This Quality Assurance Project Plan describes the technical study that will further evaluate fecal coliform concentrations in the mainstem Willapa River and selected tributaries. The project objectives are to (1) clarify pollution sources and compare current conditions to Washington State water quality criteria for fecal coliform bacteria, (2) compare current and previous monitoring data, and (3) provide data for decisions on local TMDL implementation planning/responses. The study will be conducted by Ecology's Environmental Assessment Program.

Link to EIM data for User Study ID OGEO0001